South Africa have made clear their aims for the World Cup finals - progress
past the first round and into the knockout phase.

South Africa were disappointing in their only previous World Cup finals
appearance, failing to get past the opening round at France '98 despite
only one defeat in their three group matches.

But there can be little doubt South Africa's team have developed significantly.

Less than 10 years ago, the country was still isolated from international
sport as a result of the apartheid policies enforced by the government.

South Africa had been a founder member of African football but were suspended
by FIFA in 1964 and expelled 10 years later.

They had not played a World Cup game before 1992 and got a 4-0 thumping
from Nigeria in their debut outing.

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS

But within four years of being accepted back into the international fold,
"Bafana Bafana" were continental champions, winning the African
Nations Cup finals on home soil in early 1996.

They also qualified for the World Cup in France and rose to the top of
the African rankings.

The country also made a strong bid to become the first African country
to host the World Cup finals, but controversially lost the race for the
2006 finals to Germany.

Qualification for the 2002 finals was secured with some ease, the team
going through the qualifiers with a 100 percent record until they were
held to a 1-1 away draw in Burkina Faso in their last group game.

But South Africa did benefit greatly from the expulsion of Guinea from
the qualifiers, after the west African country's government had interfered
in the running of their football federation and were suspended by FIFA.

Injury to captain Lucas Radebe has also been a blow with the former Leeds
United captain battling with knee ligament problems that have kept him
out of action since March.

But there have been other players emerging on to the international stage,
who will be key at the World Cup finals.

Shaun Bartlett, from London club Charlton Athletic, and Danish-based
Sibusiso Zuma have emerged as the crucial ingredients in the teams plans.